Duplicate bridge table



Feb. 12, 1935.

F. DE COSTA DUPLICATE BRIDGE TABLE Filed June 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 12, 1935. 5 COSTA 1,991,015

DUPLI CATE BRIDGE TABLE F. DE COSTA DUPLICATE BRIDGE TABLE Feb. 12, 1935.

s Sheets-Shet 3 Filed June' 20 1952 Patented Feb. 12,1935

invention relates to; aldevice' for facilitat-j ing the' playing of duplicatebridge,

Themain purpose of my invention is to con: struct a bridge talblewith nopeningsgo ri its "upper surface through which playing cards can-be m azine 5' h tl' e dicat ons Willi r ster withdrawn from,,a ,magaz ine below, the upper surfacegof thetableQ h v Afurtherpurpose isto placea series of card-H receiving magazines beneath a bridge table, whieh magazines are adapted to be moved in unison, to register the', same compartments of the magazines .below openings in, the table.

A furthern purpose is'to place a series of indications on the upper surface of v the .LinoVable through fopeningsin the. table.

n A further purpose is to provide a bridge table witlijaQseries of; movable magazines belowits upper surface and which are moved coincidently A In ether purpose is to constructa maying; cardimagazine withj pflartitions to term compart 1 1 5, thexupnerg portions o t p ti ions rhea ing recessed to allfow io 'jeasy remoyaljofjthe playing cards. '1

A further ,purpqseis to employ coop erating supporting tracks, and rollers for easy manipu latiorlgoi" magazines beneath a table top tof regiister compartmentsof the magazines, below peninssinthetable topl p A. furthe p r os stoe moy. a stopp n ol -L viceto control the movement ofj magazines and hold the magazinfiSLiI a desired,positionbflneath wri abl -p A further purpose .is to providea pivoted ole-i sure for an enlarged opening ina slot of abridge table. ,s V

Describing: in illustration and not in limitation ,b li ie lf n ntpithe drawings; Figure 1' is atop plan view of my! improvedj duplicate contract bridge, table. 1

in Fi lllie l. i I I g r Figure 3 is a sectional top plan view taken on therline 37-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is ,a longitudinal sectional view taken, on thejline 4-4 of Figure 1. I i i Figure. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure l.

" igure fi is a transylerse sectional view taken on theline 6-6 of Figurefi:

Figure "7 is an enlarged transverseysectional viewtaken on the line '7 +7' ofFigure 3. 1 V Figure 8is an enlarged ,fragmentary longitj "takenlon th'el ine 11+11ernigur 1o. formpnly off eventhatll ha' ie f ound tolloe eflicient in use and practical-infconstruction which, well illustrates the principles involved.

9 m masazines j zaiana .24 and the cable-f din al seotiona1.,;iriew taken: on theline aga e 5 Figure V Figure!) is an enlargedperspectivey ew of one:

struction of @my improved table. Figure 10 ,isv airagmentary enl "of thepartitioned"magazines used inthel cong arged top plan view. of a portion o' f imy improved table showing a closure for an' enlargedopening in the cardf withdrawal'slot. n A Figure llfqis, airagmentry sectional view I have (preferred 12 show, on

the different'fo'rms that might be selected] toil illustrate my,invention, selecting a formQhow-A 'l InthedraWing's I show arectangular table lo I, having atop Q16Qside 17; 'and' legs '13. The 1]. tableqlton 1e provided with slotted openings 19,, 20 21 andr22 enea r thejl edge ,of the table and achli ron l F ne of m nu: a ers; here-m theap roximatemiddl iqibnejor th 0u is eS-; J

Belowfithe ta l top 1.6;512 a e a i ml i Oi i partitioned card magazines 23 24, 25,.Iang1e 2 6.1 Thesecard magazines are'v supported, intheillus -i tration' shown, by angle. imnslzr ana z zf upon; rollers 28 mounted inbearing strips l29 upon the lj ofi thetableand from angle iron bear sides lugs 30 beneath the table top -16.- n n The sets ofe'ards in the different-magazines are separated. by. divisions ,or partitions 31, form;-

l-in j m ar m nt 3 min hi hiih i v du hands of cards liej inflla verticaljposition with i 35 positionjoi the magazines] four [handsix33gfrom the samejdecks are exposedbeneath the open Pings 19, 20,21 and 22. They are intended to their upper edges exposedsothat in any given be used for i play together. f The hands exposed are determined, of coursehy the compartments which correspond with these ope'ningsat the The cardmagazines are moved to regis'try knob 34 positioned on one side of and outside:

the tableqThe knob; is fastened to ashaft35 extendinginteriorly of'xthe table and the shaft.

carries -a sprocket 3672;" The sprocket; 361 drives:

e sametime. "The hands are shown in Figure 1 Figure 2 isa sideelevation of thefltable shown beneath the slots inthe table top by means of a Y In one corner: the chainQ-fi'lpasses about a Cable endsAB and 4 4 ,are fastened, at 45 to sprocket, 4OIwhich is-pivotedat l in a suitable; 'bearing 42 in passes about pulleys 46, 47 and 48. The pulleys are mounted in the corners of the table upon shafts 49 turning in bearings 50.

The attachment of the cable to the card magazines can be made in various ways and I have shown one simple form of connecting the cable to the card magazines by the use of set screws 51. The cable passes through apertured blocks 52 which are secured to each of the magazines.

As shown in'Figures f5 and '6 the shaft 35 projects outwardly through the side 17 of the the shaft 35. side 17 of the table 15 to receive a spring 55, and a triangular block 56 fastened to the shaft 35 is also inserted in the recess: ,A knob as is pinned at 57 to the shaft 35. y i

Each rotation of the shaft 35 corresponds with the passage of a definite and complete number of compartments of the magazines passing the openings in the tables. This facilitates convenient stoppage of the magazines so that in whatever positions they stop one compartment will lie in central position below each opening. The mechanism provided for insuring stoppage for proper compartment position each time lies in a cam 56 rotatable with the shaft 35 engaging with the,spring 55. The number of positions on the cam will'of course correspondwith the numberof' compartment distances for which the magazines are advanced by each rotation of the cam.

, The cam shown is triangular providing three flat surfaces'58 which in turn. engage and rest against the spring 55. The flats makeit possible for the operator of the knob to feel the positions of registration without necessity for looking for them and to bring the compart "ments to registry against the action of the spring, engaging the fiat of the cam which avoids accidental displacementof the magazines, and

carrying the cam to position when it is not fully turned and bringing it back from "positions of slight over movement. 7 It'will be recognized that the'shaft 35 need not be made a unit but that some full stroke device'having positions corresponding with the compartment positions is quite desirable and is supplied both cheaply and conveniently by the mechanism shown. v

When the. triangular cam is turned, one end of the spring slides outwardly. It is desirable to fasten the other end of the spring, as at 55', to the innersurface of the recess to prevent. bodily displacementof the spring from its posi tion inthe recess 54.

The next step by one of the players is to turn the knob and cause the next compartment of each of the magazines below the slots in the upper surfaceof the table to register to allow for withdrawal from the compartments of the magazines a different hand from that previously played. l

It will be obvious that accurate registry of the playing cards beneath the slots in the upper surface of the tableis essential for conveniently withdrawing the proper hands of cards from the magazines. It is for this reason that I have provided the triangular stop 56 as I have found this to be an accurate registering'device.

Theangle irons 27 which are secured to the magazines have theirupper surfaces provided with a series of indications which register through the slots in the upper surface of the table.

In playing duplicate bridge, one hand is played number (usually 16 or 32). The decks are then "replayed giving the hands originally played by .one set of partners to the table which side 17 provides a bearing 53 for A recess 54 is provided in the hands to be played, and for furnishing, the

hands over again to the opposite sets of part ners after the full number of decks have been played.

The hands of the different decks are initially dealt out and placed in the compartments ,of

the magazine. Theyarethen ready for withdrawal by the four players. After each of the] hands of any deck, has been-played the hands magaare replaced in the compartments of the zine from which they were removed,

The surface ofthe angle iron 2'7 carries indications 59 in they form of numerals to identify the difierent decks to which belong the hands to be placed in themagazine. This allows replaying of the hands by opposite partners, the. players changing positions at the ,boardto eff fect the change] v I find it desirable to provide thenumbers representing the decks on one magazine only preferably on the magazine nearest theoperator.

Another angle iron '27 carries letters for identification of the dealer and to designate whether or not hands are" vulnerable and if so which hands.

The letters shown on onerow indicate posie tions, as .N, E, Sand W. The remaining row of letters indicates what hands are or are not,-

vulnerable and are interpreted, O, that none are vulnerable; B, that both are vulnerable;

NS, that north and south are vulnerable; and

EW, that east and west are vulnerable.

I provide mechanism whereby the magazines,

arranged beneath thetable top, can be accurately set initially or subsequently adjusted if the cable should stretch.

The compartments may thus be set with respectto the slots in' the table. For'this reason. I attach the, cable at 45 to the magazines byset screws 51, which permit the necessary setting and any desired adjustment.

A turn buckle 60 provides a simple arrangement for taking up the slack in the cable if the cable should stretch.

The tablelegs 18 are preferably hinged at 61 although it is not necessary that they should be hinged as it would not aifect my invention v in any way.

Each of the slotsl9,. 20, 21 and 22 is enlarged to form a circular opening 19', 20, 21 and 22 to allow for grasping the. cards to withdraw them from the magazine.

I find it desirable to provide a closure for the a 3 enlarged openings 19', 20', 21' and 22 to prea a1;9&1;01b "-vent ethe .zcards ifromafallingsaout uor to protect 27' when desired. The upwardly turned end 62 provides .a convenient finger place upon the sprocket 36. l

" The magazines are recessed .at' 23' tofallow for'easy grasping of the cardsfor withdrawal.

It will be evident that the broad features of my invention do not concern the character of division walls between'the compartments, the

character of the supports by which themagarhold to move the zines are held and guided nor the mechanism by which they are concurrently operated. and held in registeringrelation so that the corresponding hands of the same deck each time appear below the openings in the tableiwhen these hands areito beplayed. It is important that the cards be supported in vertical planes and that inleach magazine the hands from different decks be separated so as to be individually ac-f .cessible without confusion with adjoining hands.

It willbe further evident that there is an inter-relation between the various indications presented and the mechanical features of the individual magazines'notwithstanding that the indicators would operate with other mechanical constructions.

It will'be further evident that the straight line movement of the magazine passed the point at which the hands are to be successively withdrawn and replaced permitsirectangular compartments as distinguishedfrom radial compartments, for example.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations andmodifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain part or all of the benefits of my invention without copy-,

ing the structure shown, andLtherefore, claim all such in. so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I 9

1. A card table having-a top and openings in the top at intervals corresponding to the positions of players about the table, a plurality of magazines each presenting card compartments adapted to be brought in line with the openings, guiding and supporting means for the magazines, a flexible connection uniting the magazines, means for adjusting the position of the magazines along the flexible connection, guides for the flexible connection at the corners of the table and means for lengthwise moving the flexible connection to cause the magazines to move in unison beneath the respective openings. 2. A card table. having a top and openings in the top corresponding to positions of players,

guide 66 to keep the chain in a'iipluralit p .Ofi magazines 1 located beneath ;.the a -tfl-b1efiitbp" .and: l ineposition tow provide .comparte mentsior: cards. on edge. corresponding to succesfor mounting.andaguidingthe'lmagazinesto trav- ,5, .ielrbeneath the openings land:flexiblerconnections between ithei magazines? causing them .toqmove in iu'nison-andl sprocketzandichainrmeans. for :moving the flexible connections.

3. A card tabletop having openings at intervals corresponding with the positions. of the players, a plurality of magazines supported beneath the top, rollers for the magazines, angle irons secured to the magazines and engaging the rollers, flexible connections between the maganeath the slots in the table, a chain and. cable connecting the magazines, a sprocket and rollers about which'the chain and cables rotate, magazinesfadjustable with. respect to the magazines zine adjusting means on the cable, a-turn buckle fortakingup slack in the cable and a knob shaft, sprocket onthe shaft adapted to mesh with the .chain to move the magazines.

5.'A .table top having slots, magazines below the upper surface of the top transversely movable with respect to the slots, cable adjustably connected to the magazines, rollers about which the cables pass,jchain and sprocket connection -between the ends of the cables and a triangular cam and spring connectionsecured on one of the sprockets for controlling the registry of the magazine below the slots inthe table.

6.1 A card table of rectangular formhaving four openingsthrough the table top, one on each side of the table, four separate partitioned magazines, each beneaththe table top and each adjacent one of the four sides of the table and moving longitudinally of that side of the table, guideways for the magazines and means for concurrently moving the magazines in their guideways, whereby successive spaces between partitions in the magazines will match'with the I openings and the positions of the magazines with respect to the openings will be corelated.

7. A card table of generally rectangular form having four openings through the top of the table, one adjacent each side, four separate partitioned magazines, each movable longitudinally of one side of the table and capable of having the spaces between the partitions match with one of the openings, guideways for. each magazine,

flexible connections extending from one magazine to the 'nextmagazine aroundthe table and attached to each magazine and means for chang- .ing the directions of the flexible connections at.

the corners of the table.

8. A card table of rectangular form top provided with four openings,'one adjacent each side of the table, four separate partitioned magazines, guideways for each magazine making 65 a the magazine movable longitudinally of one side of the table to positions in which the spaces between successive partitions of the magazine align with the opening for that magazine, flexible,

connections from one magazine to another so that all magazines will move as a'unit, means for changing the direction of the flexible connections at the corners of the table and means for feeding the flexible connections forward and thereby moving the magazines.

9; In a card table, four magazines positioned d0 havinga like thesides of a square, and meansfor concurrently moving the magazines toward the successive corners of the square, whereby one magazine travels into a portion of the space formerly 5 occupied by'another magazine. a

n 10. In a card table, four separate partitioned magazines, one positioned to correspond with each of the points of the compass, a; card table having openings equally spaced around its perimeter, each opening cooperating with a magazine,1guiding means for the magazines attached to the table, an endless flexible connection following thegeneral external contour of the table 

